Cloth tentering mechanism for looms



Oct. 24, 1939. A. E. BENSON 2,177,514

CLOTH TENTERING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 17, 1938 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 2 v- I 24' 24 is 52 4s 58 2e Is .55 42 18 0 is ARI/ UR ELBENSO/V INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1939. A, BENSON 2,177,514

CLOTH TENTERING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 17, 1938 2 SheetsSheet 2 m L, I T v w ARI/[0136.BE/l ZS0/V INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED srarss PATENT OFFIQE CLOTH TENTERING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 11 Claims.

This; invention relates to an improved cloth tentering mechanism for looms comprising an improved loom temple construction adapted for operation in a novel manner to prevent injury to the cloth through the breakage of selvage threads, as well as to prevent the formation of indentations. or fine openings in the fabric through. the use of toothed clamping jaws or rolls providedwith radial pins.

One object of the invention is the provision of a.mechanism of this character adapted to grip the edges of the cloth and effect a lateral stretching of the fabric in coordinated relation with the movement of the lay beam, to bring. the width of thefabri'c into substantial correspondence with thelen'gth of the reed during those periods when the filling threads are beaten up into close relation-through movement of the lay beam.

Another object of the invention is. the provision of a. mechanism adapted to release its grip on the fabric immediately upon the completion of the forward movement of the lay to permit free movement of the fabric under the influence of a take-up mechanism, whether the take-up mechanism isoperated over along or short period of" the movement of the lay, and generally re gradlessof' the time of its occurrence during the cycle of movement of the lay.

A further object of the invention is to elimihate the formation of openings or perforations in the woven fabric through the use of rotating clothcengaging members having pins engaging thecloth, and provide gripping means of a character adapted to. operate without'injury to fine 35. silk, cotton,.rayon or other fabrics of a fine texture.

Aflfurther object of the invention is the provision of. novel and improved gripping means for engaging the lateral edges of thefabric and novel 40; means for operating the same to effect lateral movement ofthe gripping means outwardly of the fabric at suitable intervals while leaving the fabric free at all other times to move without interference from the temples during the con- 45 stant or intermittent operation of appropriate take-up mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means actuated by movement of the lay for gripping and tentering the fabric during 5o: a, -brief interval in the beat up of a filler thread beginning immediately prior to the completion of the full forward movement of the lay and terminating when the lay has receded a substantially equal distance from its full forward position, 55 .leav ing the fabric .free during. the remainder of the cycle'of movement of the lay for actuation by the take-up means without interference from the gripping mechanism.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a novel'form' of gripping means for engaging and gripping opposite edges of the cloth Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction and numerous novel parts and arrangements of parts making up the structure, as well as improved methodsof operating the same such as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a loom, certain of the parts being broken away, and showing portions of the breast beam and lay beam with associated mechanisms operable for tentering thecloth,

Fig. 215 a' vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of'Fig. 1, and showing the relative arrangement of certain of the operating parts, and showing'the gripping jaws in open position,

Figi.3 is a vertical sectional view through a portion ofthe temple mechanism and breast beam, taken'substantially along the line 3-3of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4*is a vertical sectional View through the gripping; jaws; taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the jaws in closed position, and illustrating the cloth engaging elements,

Fig. 5' is a vertical sectional view through a portion ofthe'lay beam, taken substantially along theline 55'of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of a portion of the lay-beam, showing the bumper and its manner of attachment to the face of the lay beam, and,

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a portion of the-breast-beam, showing the relation of the gripping jaws and the means for imparting movement thereto laterally of the cloth through operation of the slide mounted on the breast beam.

Heretofore, various forms and arrangements of cloth templing and tentering mechanisms have been employed. in connection with the formation of woven fabrics, emloying various formsand arrangements of loom temples adapted for. operation in various ways, including the provision 'of non-laterally-displaceable gripping jaws,and the useof laterally displaceable constantly engaging means such as rollers provided with radial teeth or pins adapted for constant engagement with the fabric. In the first case, the use of non-laterally-displaceable gripping jaws fails to stretch the fabric laterally in such a manner as to give it a width corresponding substantially with the effective length of the reed and thus fails to prevent or minimize the abrasion or breakage of weft threads in selvage portions of the fabric by movement of the reed. In the use of each of these constructions the provision of pins or teeth engaging fine fabrics tends to injure the selvage edges by forming perforations or depressions in the cloth that detracts from its appearance, particularly in the case of fine fabrics, and may result in a breakage or fraying of the threads.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the loom frame l, breast beam 2, lay 3, reed 4 and means for moving the lay 3 may be of any usual or desired character adapted for the purpose for which they are employed. A suitable guide bar or roll 4' may be supported in any desired manner from the frame I, over which the woven fabric may pass to a suitably driven sand roll 5 and thence to the usual cloth roll 6 which may be operated by any suitable form of takeup mechanism (not shown) as is usual in devices of this character.

Mounted upon the breast beam 2 are suitable grooved supporting plates 1 and 8 for each temple slide 9, the supporting plates 1 and 8 being secured to the breast beam by bolts l0 and H, respectively. The supporting plate 1 may be fixedly secured to the breast beam while the supporting plate 8 may be capable of limited adjustment longitudinally thereof through the slot 12 receiving the bolt H.

Each temple slide 9 is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the breast beam in the grooved ends of opposite supporting plates 1 and 8, the extent of its sliding movement being determined by the adjusted position of its supporting plate 8. An actuating arm i4 is secured to or formed integral with each slide 9 and may project outwardly beyond the front edge of the breast beam and be provided with an end slot IS. A spring 46 may be provided to connect the arm 44 or other portions of the slide With a portion of the supporting plate 8 for returning the slide 9 to its normal retracted position after actuation.

A bracket I! is adjustably secured to the front face of the breast beam by means of a screw or bolt l8 passed through a slotted opening in the bracket. Each bracket I! is located at a point adjacent to one of the actuating arms l4 carried by a slide for pivotally supporting an elbow lever 19, which is provided with a lug 20 adapted to fit within the end of the actuating arm for-moving the slide 9 longitudinally of the breast beam.

Each temple slide 9 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 2! providing means for adjustably mounting a temple holding bracket or base 22 thereon by means of a clamping bolt 23. Each temple bracket 22 supports adjustably a temple holder 24 having a base 25 and a cap portion 26, said base and cap having projecting flanges 21 engageableby one or more clamping screws 28 or the like to hold the base and cap together when removed from the temple holding base. A clamping bolt 29 or similar fastening means is passed through a slot 38 formed in the flanges 27 for adjustably securing each temple holder 24 to its bracket 22. Each temple holder 24 provides a support for a sliding temple rod or shank 32, the stem 33 of which extends within the holder and is provided with a spring 34 disposed between a shouldered portion of the shank and the reduced end 24' of the holder, whereby the spring 34 normally acts to hold the temple rod or shank 32 and its attached temple in its position nearest the lay. The temple rod or shank 32 extending from the holder 24 towards the lay is provided with upper and lower temple jaws 35 and 36, one of which is movable towards and from the other in order to clamp and hold the fabric at intervals and release it at other times in the operation of the mechanism.

In that form of the invention, shown herein, the lower jaw 36 is formed integral with or fixedly secured to the shank 32, and the upper jaw 35 is pivotally mounted on the shank 32 by means of a pivot bolt 38 for pivotal movement towards or from the jaw 36. The upper jaw member 35 is provided with a rearwardly and downwardly extending arm 39 to which is pivotally secured a trigger arm 40, as at 4|, and the lower end portion of the arm 39 may be provided with a locking screw 42 extending through an arcuate slot 43 formed in the trigger arm 48 for adjustably securing the trigger arm 40 to the arm 39 in any one of a plurality of angularly adjusted positions. The weight of the combined arm 39 and trigger arm 48 located upon one side of the pivot bolt 38 is such as to more than counterbalance the weight of the jaw 35 on the opposite side of the pivot bolt 38, and thus maintain the jaws normally in open position at all times except when pressure is applied to the trigger arm 48.

A laterally slidable detent 45 may be secured to the fixed or lower jaw 36 by means of a screw or like holding means 46 in position to be turned inwardly over the movable jaw 35, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to limit the extent of separation of the jaws and at the same time limit the extent of angular movement by the trigger arm 40 when released by its operating instrumentality.

Suitably mounted upon the lay beam, as upon the under face thereof, is a bracket 48 in which is slidably supported a trigger engaging member 49 having a portion normally projecting for wardly from the lay beam, the member 49 being provided with a slot 59 for receiving a tension spring 5|, one end of which may be secured to the bracket 46 by a screw or like fastening means 52, the opposite end being secured to a portion of the member 49, as indicated at 52', whereby the member 49 is resiliently'supported in the bracket 48. The member 49 is suitably positioned for engaging the trigger arm 48 as the lay beam approaches its forward position and presses the member 49 against the trigger arm 48 resiliently, through action of the spring 5|, to rotate the upper jaw 35 about its pivot 38 and close the jaws upon the edge of the fabric therebetween.

A bumper plate 53 is suitably mounted on the lay beam 3, being preferably provided with a slotted opening 54 toreceive the fastening screw 55 or the like in such a manner as to be capable of adjustment longitudinally of the lay beam. The bumper plate 53 may be provided with a bumper face 56 of any suitable or desired character located in appropriate position to engage the lever arm 51 of the elbow lever IQ for moving the temple slide 9 longitudinally of the breast beam and outwardly laterally of the fabric. The arrangement of these operating elements is such that the trigger arm 48 is first engaged by the resilient slide member 49 to move the upper jaw 35 into fabric gripping relation with the lower jaw 36, and immediately'thereafter the'lever arm 510i the elbow lever I9 is engaged by the bumper face 56 of, the bumper plate 53 to move the temple slide 9 outwardly laterally of the fabric.

The lower jaw '36 of the movable jaws 35 and 36may be provided with a recess-60 formed in the upper face thereof and surrounded by an upwardly extending edge or rim 6|, for receiving a pad of'leather, cork or the like 62, preferably of slightly less height than the rim 6|, which pad maybe held in position by rivets 63 or by being cemented or otherwise secured to the face of the jaw 36. A pad 64 of cloth, felt or the like may be secured to the operating face of the jaw 35, as

did

by means of rivets 65, or by being cemented, glued or otherwise fixedly secured to the face of the jaw 35. The edges of the fabric material being woven are consequently gripped directly by the pads 62 andyfi l to prevent injury to'the fabric material; and upon release of the gripping actuating means, the slightly raised edges of the jaw 36 will supportthe fabric substantially out of contact with the face of the pad 62 as the fabric is drawn thereover by action of the take-up,

other and at corresponding periods in the movement of the lay beam.

As is well known by those skilled in the art, the lay on the forward movement carries the last shot of filling with it toward the fell of the cloth, and, at the moment of beating up drives such filling into place closely adjacent the previous shot, which may be in a different warp shed. Such action of the lay when the fabric is not held in a laterally extendedposition correspondingsubstantially with the effectivelength of the reed tends to cause a longitudinally extending gather or width reduction in the cloth, which tends to cause abrasion of or. injury to certain of the warp threads through engagement by the reeds. To avoid these defects, the present invention contemplates the provision'of means .for temporarily and positivelygripping opposite lateral edges of the fabric and moving the same outwardly laterally of the fabric as each filling is beaten up into place by movement of the lay, so that the reed wires will not abrade the warp threads as the filling is driven into place. The substantially immediate release of the gripping jaws after the lay starts to return permits operation of the cloth take-up means either substan tially continuously, or at any point in the movement of the lay beam, except that in which the filling is actually being driven into place, Without 'the fabric.

From the construction as shown and described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that as the lay moves to the beat-up and immediately prior to the full forward movement thereof, the resiliently mounted members 49 will engage the trigger arms 40 and cause the upper jaws 35 to move about their pivots 38 to grip resiliently the edge of the fabric between the jaws 35 and 36. Immediately upon the closure of the gripping jaws and in timed subsequent relation therewith the bumper faces 56 will engage the lever arms 51 of the elbow levers [9 to actuate the temple slides 9 for moving both temples outwardly simultaneously in a direction laterally of the fabric to bring the width of the fabric into substantial correspondence with the effective length of the reed as the filler thread is driven into place upon the full forward movement of the lay. As the lay returns after each beat-up the bumper faces 56 first release the lever arms 51 of the elbow levers l9 and immediately thereafter the resiliently mounted members 49 release the trigger arms 40 to permit the jaws 35 and 36 to open through the counterbalancing action of the arms 39 and trigger arms 40,

While the gripping jaws and temple moving means are shown herein as actuated directly from the lay, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these mechanisms may be actuated by other means which may in turn be actuated by or in timed relation with the movement of the lay. The actuation of the gripping jaws to grip the cloth preferably takes place shortly before the lay completes its full forward movement and the gripping jaws may be released at a corresponding period in the return movement of the lay. Accordingly, the outward lateral movement of opposed gripping jaws from each other occurs in the interval between the actuation and release of the gripping jaws, and the entire duration of the cloth gripping action is only a small part of the cycle of movement of the lay. Consequently, the cloth is free to move without interference by the gripping jaws during substantially the entire cycle of movement of the lay.

The terms lay and lay beam as employed in the specification and claims are to be understood as comprising or including all parts and portions of the oscillatory lay beam structure adapted to participate in its movement towards and from the breast beam during the usual forward and return movements of the lay beam in the weaving operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a tentering mechanism for a loom having a lay movable for beating up the filler threads in the warp, clamping means and means for movingsaid clampingmeans to positively grip opposite edges of the woven fabric prior to the completion of the full forward movement of the lay, and

means independently of said last named means gripping means intoand retaining them in cloth gripping position, and means separate from said first named lay actuated means actuated by the lay for moving said cloth gripping means outwardly from each other while in gripping engagement with the cloth.

3. In a tentering mechanism for cloth looms, a lay, displaceably mounted cloth gripping means movable to grip opposite edges, of the cloth and displaceable bodily outwardly from each other each other successively, said means being operated by the lay during the return movement of the layto release saidzactuating'means in the reverse order of their occurrence.

4. In a loom, temples having jaws between which the opposite side edges of the woven fabric passes, a lay, jaw actuating means for causing said jaws to close upon the fabric, and means separate from'said jaw actuating means operated by the lay prior to the completion of the full forward movement of the lay for displacing said temples outwardly-from each other transversely of the fabric while said jaws are in gripping engagement with opposite sides of the fabric.

5., In a tentering mechanism for cloth looms, a breast beam, oppositely positioned cloth grip ping means carried by said beam and mounted for sliding movement longitudinally thereof, a lay, means for moving said cloth gripping means into gripping engagement with opposite edges of the cloth, and means actuated in timed relation with the movement of the lay for sliding said cloth gripping means outwardly from each other while ping positively opposite edges of the cloth, means for moving said jaws. into cloth gripping position, means for displacing said oppositely positioned jaws outwardly from each other along straight line paths at rightangles to the direction of movement of the cloth while in gripping engagement with the cloth, and separate means operated by the lay during the forward movement thereof for actuating said jaw gripping and displacing means successively and in the order named.

9. Ina tentering mechanism for looms, a lay, fabric gripping means located upon opposite sides of the formed fabric and normally out of gripping engagement with the fabric, means actuatedby e the lay during the forward movemento-f the lay for moving said gripping means into gripping engagement with opposite side edges ofthe fabric, means separate from said last named means for moving said gripping means outwardly from each other while in gripping engagement with the fabric, and means operable by the lay during the rearward movement of the lay and upon the release of said last named moving means for movin gripping engagement with opposite edges of ing said gripping means towards each other and the cloth.

. 6. In a tentering mechanism for cloth looms, oppositely positioned cloth gripping means engageable with opposite side edges of the cloth, a lay, means for moving said cloth gripping means into clamping engagement with opposite side edges of the cloth and out of clamping engagement therewith during one complete cycle of movement of the lay, and means effective during the period when the cloth gripping means are 'in clamping engagement with the cloth for displacing said cloth gripping means outwardly bodily from each other laterally of the cloth and returning the same to their initial positions prior to the movement of said gripping means out of clamping, engagement with the cloth.

7. In a tentering mechanism for cloth looms, oppositely positioned temples each having a pair of jaws relatively movable to clampingly engage or release a selvage edge of the cloth, a lay beam, means actuated by the lay beam prior to the completion of the full forward movement of the lay beam for moving the jaws of oppositely positioned temples into clamping engagement with selvage edges of the cloth without lateral displacement of the temples, and means actuated by the lay beam 5 prior to the completion of the full forward movement of the lay beam in subsequent timed relation with said first named means for laterally displacing said temples relative to each other after the jaws have been moved into clamping en- "gagement with selvage edges of the cloth.

8. In a tentering mechanism for cloth looms, a lay, oppositely positioned movable jaws for gripout of gripping engagement with the fabric.

10. In a loom, temples having gripping jaws between which the fabric passes, a lay,' gripping jaw actuating means operated by the lay for causing said jaws to close upon the fabric as the lay approaches its front position, means operated by the lay effective during the return movement of the lay for moving said gripping jaws out of gripping engagement with the fabric, and means independent of said first named gripping jaw actuating means operable by the lay during the forward movement of the lay for moving said temples outwardly from each other duringthe period in which the fabric is engaged by the gripping jaws.

11. The combination with a loom structure comprising a breast beam, and a lay beam movable towards and from said breast beam, of means carried by said breast beam for slidably supporting fabric gripping'memb'ers whereby said fabric gripping members may be moved. towards and from each other, fabric gripping members mounted on said supporting means and each provided with a fixedjaw and a movable jaw, means for actuating said movable jaws to grip the fabric at opposite selvage edges thereof, and means for sliding said fabric gripping members outwardly from each other while said jaws are in gripping engagement with the fabric, whereby the fabric may be gripped at opposite side edges thereof and lateral tension applied thereto; while the same is engaged by said gripping jaws. 1

AR'I UR E. BENSON. 

